Freddie Roach tipping Zou Shiming for a quick World title

FREDDIE ROACH has piled the pressure on Chinese superstar Zou
Shiming tipping him to become a world champion inside a year.

It will be Chinese boxing's biggest ever moment when the
flyweight (above) makes his professional debut in Macau on
Saturday.

The double Olympic champion and three-time world amateur will
face Mexican Eleazar Valenzuela over four rounds.

Zou will not beat the record of Saensak Muangsurin who won the
WBC light-welterweight title in his third professional fight by
knocking out Perico Fernandez back in July 1975.

But trainer Freddie Roach believes his latest Wild Card gym
acquisition can top the Leon Spinks who had been a professional for
just 13 months when he shocked Muhammad Ali in Februry 1978 in his
eighth fight.

Roach (left) said: "Zou Shiming is going to be a world champion
in a short time - possibly inside one year.

"And I think he can do it in fewer fights than Leon Spinks,
another Olympic gold medalist.

"I think Zou can do it by his sixth professional fight if not
sooner.

"He is disciplined, smart and just plain good. He has impressed
me on a daily basis. He is such a quick learner.

"He's a great student and has so much talent.

"Anyone who can win two Olympic gold medals and three World
Amateur Championships, you know he has to have talent.

"I think his amateur experience and accomplishments will take
him a long, long way as a professional."

WBA Super and WBO king Brian Viloria, who risks his titles
against Juan Francisco Estrada, has already been earmarked for Zou
when he goes for the big prize, almost certainly in early 2014.